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I think the majority of the pressure is put on me by myself. There was a time when I was not able to afford to spend much on luxuries like toys or video games. Hard work and better budgeting, and the luck of keeping stable employment (because in this economic climate, regular people can still lose jobs no matter how hard they work) have all allowed me to be able to buy a lot more, as well as more expensive items.

The internet, and yes, social media have maybe opened my horizons a bit more. With far easier access to US or Japanese exclusive toys, or even just the stuff that we're supposed to get here in the UK but is always hit and miss...I can in theory get pretty much any new release I want. Some stuff, like Botcon sets, and other convention exclusives are still harder to get, but if I was willing to pay the money I could get the majority of them.

I do try and restrain myself though, especially when it comes to big ticket items. Was saving and putting off buying one of the 3rd party Devastators for a while, then, when I had the money to get one...there's 4 or 5 other things I'd like as much, and then Fort Max gets announced! Eeek!

Diem, like you, I spent my youth in the UK (still here, actually) and was in our big old awesome Toymaster shop getting something or other with pocket money. Probably a Throttlebot or Terrorcon limb or something. Saw this giant TF, what seemed to be at the time the same size as me! It was a Fort Max, on display and up for grabs in a colouring competition. I put all the effort into colouring that picture that my little brain and body could muster, but the prize never came. I feel like I owe it to that little kid to get him a Fort Max, after all, I've let him get old and a bit tubby, and didn't become an astronaut or Ghostbuster like he wanted.

Andrius wrote:I hear you, but I don't think that's quite fair. No one on this thread is less than a pretty intense collector and fan. But we can acknowledge that there's a fine line between enthusiasm and obsession, between collection and compulsion. And that line can be easily slipped over in these days of weak economy, rising prices, and expanding 3rd-party offerings. Certainly none of us are having our arms twisted to be here, but there are moments when it might feel that way and this forum is as good a resource as any to find comfort.

I agree with you and understand your points. There is a fine line between enjoying your hobby and putting yourself in a worse position because you don't want to get left behind. I guess I just don't usually come at it from that mindset...I'm more of a glass half full kind of person.

Diem wrote:Well I didn't meant to bring you down. I've been part of this community for quite some time and I have been on the other side of the fence too; I lived in Japan for several years and back then I was the one who was getting all the cool J-exclusives quicker and cheaper. But I am in a comparatively bad position now, financially and emotionally and I think it reached some kind of apex when I made the first post.

I understand your sentiments, and the sentiments of the others in this thread who have talked about curbing one's collecting and having the ability to change what you can, capacity to accept what you can't etc. Maybe I am just being a spoiled brat. We are all here out of love, not hate (except for Rated X, who is here for trolling). I didn't mean for this to be a turn off for you and for that I apologise; this is an amazing site full of very supportive and excellent people. And if you stick around me you'll find that when I'm don't have my nose pressed up against the outside of Counterpunch's window in the snow, I'm actually a pretty funny and upbeat guy.

No problems. I respect your situation and I really do understand the points you were making. I guess it's just that my initial reaction was like "What? I get the opposite kind of reaction from sharing and reading other fans' posts. How could someone else not?" So, after reading other responses I can sympathize with you and others. I think that this is the kind of thing that I really enjoy about this site: finding comfort with others TF fans that understand collecting and being fans while not being judgmental. I wish you the best in your collecting.